Last week, we celebrated Thanksgiving Day, a day when we give thanks for the important things in our lives, be they family, friends, safety, security, and, most importantly, our health. On Tuesday, December 3, there is another day of which many may be unaware: Giving Tuesday.
What exactly is Giving Tuesday? It is a day where individuals and companies can engage in many ways to improve lives. As the organization’s website says, every act of generosity, no matter how small, contributes to a larger cause, connecting us all in a shared mission to make the world a better place.
“It’s a simple idea: whether it’s making someone smile, helping a neighbor or stranger out, showing up for an issue or people we care about, or giving some of what we need to those who need our help, every act of generosity counts and everyone has something to give.”
This can be accomplished in several ways. We all have time, most have treasure, and some have talent. The variety of ways to give back empowers us all to make a difference, inspiring us to find our unique way to contribute.
Time: It isn’t necessary to show up in person. Many volunteer opportunities can be done from home, whether on social media raising awareness for a local issue, using your talents to help nonprofits who need your expertise, or even taking a few minutes to call senior citizens who need a friendly voice to talk to.
Gratitude: Merely thanking your postal worker, the people who collect your trash, stopping by the local police department or fire station with coffee and pastries, or thanking other essential workers is an easy way to give back. Posting on the social media pages of your favorite restaurant or coffee shop and thanking them for what they do or writing thank you cards are simple ways to show gratitude.
Give Support: Community organizations, nonprofits, and other charities always need support. Find one that fulfills something important to you or a family member, such as St. Jude’s Hospital, the American Cancer Society, Tunnels to Towers, or the Salvation Army.
For Giving Tuesday, Law Enforcement Today is supporting the following groups or organizations and asking our readers to please consider making a donation to.
InVest USA- InVest USA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that partners with the grassroots community to provide body armor for first responders at no cost to the officer or agency.
The company is dedicated to “protecting those who protect us.” The company not only protects officers physically through the provision of ballistic vests but also serves as a voice for law enforcement professionals. Your donation to InVest USA can directly contribute to providing life-saving equipment to first responders.
“That voice ranges from telling their sacrifices to ensure our protection to their needs for judicial reform to protect us all, their equipment updates and needs to enable better job performance, the history of their struggles and success, and the need to provide greater care for the effects of the job…PTSD and the consequences they suffer.”
InVest USA provides several national programs, including Bless The Vest, Pennies for Police, and Vest-A-Cop. These programs aim to provide physical and spiritual protection to law enforcement officers, engage youth with First Responders, and allow individuals to adopt a first responder in their area to ensure their safety, respectively.
Bless The Vest is a non-denominational campaign to provide physical and spiritual protection to law enforcement officers nationwide. It centers around the first Sabbath day of National Police Recognition Week, but ceremonies occur as funding is arranged. The congregation adopts local officers and provides them with a ballistic vest. A $700 target for each participating congregation triggers a new vest presentation.
At the presentation ceremony, the congregation will bless the officer, their service, and their protection while they serve their community.
Pennies for Police is a way to engage youth with First Responders, such as law enforcement, the fire service, and EMS. This program “allows young people of all ages to take pride and ownership in their school resource officer by engaging their schools, youth organizations, etc. to bring their ‘Pennies’ (coin change they are given around the house) For Police’ to provide and present a bulletproof vest for the officer charged with protecting them.
This program enables youth to have “ownership” by helping to “protect those who protect us” and “provides an atmosphere of interaction that has a direct impact on crime, outlook, and overall well-being and safety.”
Vest-A-Cop is a national program where one can adopt a first responder in their area to ensure their safety. Choices can be a local safety officer or another first responder “to raise funds in a crowdfunding campaign to equip that person with their own active shooter vest. This allows fundraising specifically for someone’s local community.
InVest USA is also partnering with Pendleton 1790 Knife & Tool to donate a portion of the proceeds from sales of the “We the People/InVest USA” Raptor Knife to InVest USA. These handcrafted knives make an excellent gift to first responders.
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Law Enforcement Today also supports Project Never Broken. Project Never Broken was launched in remembrance of Greg Ferency, EOW, on July 7, 2021. PNB is a non-profit dedicated to supporting law enforcement and honoring the resiliency of humanity intended to carry on Greg’s legacy.
Greg Ferency was a 30-year veteran detective and FBI Task Force officer assigned to the FBI’s Terre Haute, Indiana, field office. He was ambushed and murdered while exiting a federal building in Terre Haute. At the time of his murder, Greg was on the Terrorism Task Force. Greg was the father of two: son Nick and daughter Payton.
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Finally, Law Enforcement Today proudly supports the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) for Giving Tuesday.
NLEOMF was founded in 1984 and is “dedicated to honoring the fallen, telling the story of American Law Enforcement, and making it safer for those who serve.” It is a registered 501(c)(3) with headquarters in Washington, D.C. The fund built and maintains the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, and is the principal organizer of National Police Week.
The Memorial Fund also recently built the National Law Enforcement Museum adjacent to the memorial. The Fund is governed by a Board of Directors “representing 15 of the most prestigious law enforcement organizations in the country.” Four corporate partners, Motorola, Police Unity Tour, Verizon, and DuPont, also serve on the Board of Directors. The Memorial Fund receives no taxpayer dollars for day-to-day operations and relies on contributions from the public. For donations to the NLEOMF, please go here.
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